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Congress's Travel Tab Swells - Spending on Taxpayer-Funded T

Wall Street Journal -- WASHINGTON -- Spending by lawmakers on taxpayer-financed trips abroad has risen sharply in recent years, a Wall Street Journal analysis of travel records shows, involving everything from war-zone visits to trips to exotic spots such as the Galápagos Islands.

The spending on overseas travel is up almost tenfold since 1995, and has nearly tripled since 2001, according to the Journal analysis of 60,000 travel records. Hundreds of lawmakers traveled overseas in 2008 at a cost of about $13 million. That's a 50% jump since Democrats took control of Congress two years ago.

The cost of so-called congressional delegations, known among lawmakers as "codels," has risen nearly 70% since 2005, when an influence-peddling scandal led to a ban on travel funded by lobbyists, according to the data.

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Submitted Jul 02, 2009 By: REDROCKER55

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bad_sailor Champion Author London Posts:2,989 Points:726,105 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:32:16 PM Ignore bad_sailor Report Abuse What a shocker this is.
DerHahn Champion Author Illinois Posts:8,117 Points:1,149,950 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:31:35 PM Ignore DerHahn Report Abuse all the politicians do it, regardless of part affiliation.
TheSnowstorm Champion Author Montreal Posts:4,463 Points:1,005,630 Joined:June 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:31:24 PM Ignore TheSnowstorm Report Abuse Time for some serious accountability in the government - like that will ever happen!
FredericoAZ All-Star Author Phoenix Posts:827 Points:368,980 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:24:09 PM Ignore FredericoAZ Report Abuse Always pointing fingers across the aisle. So childish.
billy44bo Champion Author Mobile Posts:3,292 Points:622,105 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:23:59 PM Ignore billy44bo Report Abuse We get to put them in a new job in less than two years vote in a new house this time around change them all out
ex911 Champion Author San Jose Posts:6,334 Points:1,243,920 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:19:33 PM Ignore ex911 Report Abuse No, that's the problem, they DO get it, all too well...
tampatim Veteran Author Albuquerque Posts:294 Points:564,080 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:19:17 PM Ignore tampatim Report Abuse Those numbers were from the GWB years. Is anyone really surprised???
la90042 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,402 Points:505,405 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:14:31 PM Ignore la90042 Report Abuse they just don't get it - business as usual at our expense...
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,294 Points:505,350 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:12:33 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse How about firing these lousy politicians. We have (soon to be ex-)Gov. Sanford (SC) who took trips to his mistriss on the taxpayer's tab. Perhaps we need a law against this obvious misuse of taxpayer money.
MUSTANGSRUS Champion Author Ontario Posts:4,743 Points:1,001,895 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:11:16 PM Ignore MUSTANGSRUS Report Abuse All politicians are the same. They travel on our dime. They should have to pay for their travel out of their own pockets, then submit their bills. If they are legit, pay them. Otherwise - not on your nelly.
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,676 Points:964,585 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:11:02 PM Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse That's a waste of money.
DeHavilland Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,214 Points:1,007,045 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:06:16 PM Ignore DeHavilland Report Abuse All politicians are the same.
ChuckGVT Champion Author Vermont Posts:2,116 Points:735,445 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 4:03:50 PM Ignore ChuckGVT Report Abuse Time for term limits. Like two terms for congress and one for the senate. No government retirement after your terms and no government health care after either. Time for them to get a real job and I don't mean as a lobbyist. Throw the bums out.
PFCASTA All-Star Author Worcester Posts:688 Points:1,074,685 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:57:27 PM Ignore PFCASTA Report Abuse We let members of congress do this over and over again.
Kato51 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,849 Points:1,277,945 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:54:45 PM Ignore Kato51 Report Abuse This is absolutely disgusting and the biggest violator right now is Boma. He has no problem spending but I would like to hear in detail how we are going to pay it all back.
dranske Champion Author Miami Posts:1,189 Points:570,100 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:54:10 PM Ignore dranske Report Abuse Interesting, shouldn't that be regulated somehow...
Mooseman1 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:5,556 Points:934,645 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:53:14 PM Ignore Mooseman1 Report Abuse Yep, they know how to spend your tax dollar.
jjw0608 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:3,382 Points:1,002,370 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:51:39 PM Ignore jjw0608 Report Abuse I'd love to travel on somebody elses money.
DellMan Champion Author Omaha Posts:1,917 Points:442,925 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:49:57 PM Ignore DellMan Report Abuse They don't care because they don't have to pay for anything out of their own pockets. They get an allowance for a car and gas for the car, a place to live in DC, with all utilities pay by us as well, as well as a cost of living allowance to cover food. Then most of the get a 6 figure salary on top of all this. I wish I could live like this. They should be forced to pay for everything themselves to see how the rest of us actually live. No more free rides.
akeatts Champion Author Tennessee Posts:1,343 Points:271,000 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:47:25 PM Ignore akeatts Report Abuse Pork perks- you're not welcome. We want our money back!
djgunrunner Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,824 Points:1,385,640 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:45:39 PM Ignore djgunrunner Report Abuse They don't care about how my great grand kids are going to pay for comrade obamas newly acquired bills. They don't care about getting a totally renewable source of fuel that does not pollute, Hydrogen. All they care about is their egos, what they can get for nothing because some of us were dumb enough to vote them in and filling their pockets.
RovingOkie67 Champion Author Arizona Posts:1,586 Points:416,805 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:44:54 PM Ignore RovingOkie67 Report Abuse The political element should fly coach and not first class at all. They make too much money each year, further more they receive a golden parachute when they retire from being in politics. They get top of the line health care and they do not pay huge co-pays or even a dime. It is charge on the backbones of the citizens of this nation.
jony Champion Author Florida Posts:2,958 Points:826,900 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:43:41 PM Ignore jony Report Abuse what's it going to take for the Obama Administration to put a stop to this?? NOT
JPGKC Champion Author Tampa Posts:4,419 Points:821,825 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:42:06 PM Ignore JPGKC Report Abuse We cut back and they ramp up, something wrong with this picture...
virginia52 Champion Author Alaska Posts:4,013 Points:793,660 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:39:52 PM Ignore virginia52 Report Abuse This is just uncalled for. They should pay their own way if they want to go to exotic places.
Chummy37 All-Star Author Calgary Posts:853 Points:457,535 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:37:47 PM Ignore Chummy37 Report Abuse I certainly made the wrong career choice!
ladyeagle57 Champion Author Maine Posts:4,003 Points:575,465 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:37:18 PM Ignore ladyeagle57 Report Abuse They need travel budgets and if they go over it is their nickel. I prefer they pay their own way. The new trend must be to have lovers in other countries.
arvo87 Champion Author New Mexico Posts:2,940 Points:584,615 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:35:30 PM Ignore arvo87 Report Abuse why would a politician need to go to the Galapogos Islands?
FPLREP Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,370 Points:1,500,810 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:34:28 PM Ignore FPLREP Report Abuse Must be really hard to watch over our interests when you are in exotic places on our dime!
camel1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:3,805 Points:1,331,500 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:31:03 PM Ignore camel1 Report Abuse Are these Congressional delegation trips necessary? The government needs to be more responsible withnour tax money
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,135 Points:533,560 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:30:11 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse Let them stay there permanently.
TKDBlackBelt Champion Author Dayton Posts:2,406 Points:727,730 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:27:45 PM Ignore TKDBlackBelt Report Abuse These "codels" have been coddled for far too long! Weirdomania1 is absolutely correct -- those suckers should be the first to take a cut, since THEY are responsible for MOST of the messes made in this country through their own ignorance and arrogance. They should be HERE working FOR US, not jetsetting around the world WASTING our hardearned tax dollars that they have absconded!
nascar9 Veteran Author Tacoma Posts:416 Points:164,970 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:24:50 PM Ignore nascar9 Report Abuse Let them pay for their trips up front and get reimbursed by a non-partisan panel (if there is such a thing) if they feel the trip was necessary.
unicornpmb Champion Author Buffalo Posts:3,537 Points:653,150 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:23:31 PM Ignore unicornpmb Report Abuse Sounds like grounds for a hanging.
Panama Red Champion Author San Diego Posts:6,196 Points:1,555,090 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:22:36 PM Ignore Panama Red Report Abuse Congress has always taken worthless junkets overseas at taxpayers' expense regardless of which party is in power. Each such trip should be audited by a non-partisan overseer before funds are released (of course, the overseer would be bribed by the congress to approve the trip).
REKEY Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,647 Points:731,200 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:20:57 PM Ignore REKEY Report Abuse Visiting mistresses!
Cheney Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,081 Points:1,732,185 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:18:05 PM Ignore Cheney Report Abuse Such trips may be a partial antidote to US insularity and worth the taxpayer's contribution.
onedoc Rookie Author St. Louis Posts:35 Points:594,540 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:14:36 PM Ignore onedoc Report Abuse We are not very smart. We let members of congress do this over and over again.
Weirdomania1 Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,794 Points:516,465 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:14:23 PM Ignore Weirdomania1 Report Abuse hey... these guys as 'public servants' should be the first to experience spending and pay cuts when things go bad.... largely because as policy makers IT's THEIR FAULT!!!!
spudly03 Champion Author Boise Posts:1,140 Points:276,740 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:12:04 PM Ignore spudly03 Report Abuse Their trips, our money.
gg42210 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,899 Points:332,970 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:01:52 PM Ignore gg42210 Report Abuse it must be nice to do what ever you want with other peoples money.
micpie Veteran Author Oregon Posts:465 Points:116,965 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:01:27 PM Ignore micpie Report Abuse Accountability!
ThatHunt Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,615 Points:1,227,680 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:58:28 PM Ignore ThatHunt Report Abuse bring up charges on any lawmaker who is involved in this!
kbierley Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,650 Points:1,074,960 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:58:09 PM Ignore kbierley Report Abuse There they go, spending YOUR dough, without your knowledge or concent. They are your Government Officials!
brus282 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,626 Points:943,225 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:55:50 PM Ignore brus282 Report Abuse nothing good can come from anything they do or attempt to do
AcuraTSX Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,166 Points:1,266,745 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:54:41 PM Ignore AcuraTSX Report Abuse Vote the "bums" of both parties out!
Doosie All-Star Author Anchorage Posts:671 Points:464,705 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:53:19 PM Ignore Doosie Report Abuse And that $13 million could have been better spent where??? Gee, maybe on healthcare, better road infastructure, researching alternative fuels, the homeless, or maybe a tax refund or tax reduction to those of us who pay the excessive travel bills the members of congress seem to feel they are worthy of!
WIPACKERFAN Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,952 Points:880,765 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:52:19 PM Ignore WIPACKERFAN Report Abuse Let's focus on US first, then the world. That 13 million could have gone for many good uses here on our shores.
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:10,684 Points:1,164,030 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:50:21 PM Ignore caddilac Report Abuse Nothing new, and nothing has changed, as politicians have always traveled on the taxpayer's dollar and they always will.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:3,143 Points:622,485 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:48:36 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse They are just trying to stimulate the economy with their travel!
LeeFree Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:4,400 Points:1,295,625 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:46:27 PM Ignore LeeFree Report Abuse Much to the public's disappointment, no matter who gets elected there's going to be abuse. It's all a matter of how much and who gets caught.
JerryBx7 Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:2,640 Points:511,605 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:45:10 PM Ignore JerryBx7 Report Abuse "Often, lawmakers combine trips to war zones with visits to more tranquil spots. In February, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a delegation of Democratic lawmakers to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan for a day. Before landing in Kabul, the eight lawmakers and their entourage of spouses and aides spent eight days in Italy, spending $57,697 on hotels and meals." I don't care who goes on the trip, the cost per hour of flight doesn't change that much because of extra weight that is a real non-player. As a retired USAF member, you add 6,000 lbs of passengers and baggage, you aren't increasing fuel consumption. Let's just focus on hotels and meals if, we are going to to focus and anythig for 8 days. That is $7212 dollars a day. Vote for change, you get change.